US stock-index futures trimmed gains after a government report showed initial claims rose 15,000 to 576,000 in the week ending August 15.

At 8:32 am ET, the S&P 500 futures remained unchanged. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 2 points to 9274. The Nasdaq Composite futures remained unchanged.

A release by Department of Labor on Thursday showed number of Americans filing first- time claims for unemployment benefits rose 15,000 to 576,000 in the week ending August 15. Economists expected jobless claims to drop to 558,000. The four-week average of seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims, a less volatile gauge, increased 4,250 to 570,000.  Continuing claims for the week ending August 8 rose 2,000 to 6.24 million.

Early on Thursday, Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) reported that it swung to a second quarter loss of $94 million, or 79 cents a share, compared to a profit of $65 million, or 50 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue declined 10% to $10.6 billion from $11.8 billion.

Suntech Power Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: STP) said Thursday second-quarter net income dropped to $9.62 million, or 6 cents a share, from $51.9 million, or 31 cents a share in the prior year period. Revenue slipped to $321 million from $480.2 million.

The H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) announced Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter net income fell to $212.6 million, or 67 cents a share, from $229 million, or 72 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue decreased 4.5% to $2.47 billion from $2.58 billion.

Late on Wednesday, NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) reported that its fiscal first-quarter net profit rose 49 percent to $51.7 million, or 15 cents per share, compared to $34.7 million, or 10 cents, in the year earlier period. Excluding items, NetApp earned 22 cents per share. Revenue dropped 4% to $838 million.

On the economic front, leading indicators data is due for release at 10 am ET. Also on tap is a regional manufacturing survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

European stocks advanced in afternoon trade. At 13:12 pm London time, the UK FTSE gained 62.64 points or 1.34% to 4,752.31. The German DAX and French CAC increased 1.14% and 1.36% respectively.

Asian stocks finished higher. The Nikkei 225 rose 179.41 points or 1.76% to 10,383.41. The Hang Seng index of Hong Kong advanced 374.63 points or 1.88% to 20,328.86.

NYMEX crude oil for October delivery declined as much as 79 cents to $73.04 a barrel in electronic trading

Disclosure: Author doesn’t own any of the stocks mentioned here.